From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Chassis costs, detailing the intention to review units on the Wraith and Phantom III to eliminate unnecessary costs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0272 | |
| Date | 20th January 1938 | |
| 1260 BY.13/C.20.1.38. CHASSIS COSTS. It is perhaps desirable to point out that it is my intention to go over every unit on Wraith and later Phantom lll to eliminate unnecessary costs, but that at this stage we have no option but to accept the chassis as it has been developed and tested. It is clear that we cannot introduce any new features or even seriously modified features in the first batch of Wraith chassis, but we can and will give full consideration to each unit to try and reduce cost whilst maintaining quality and reliability in a Wraith lV. to follow up Wraith lll. from which after testing simplified and less costly units can be introduced into production. Among the Wraith parts which are already being reconsidered are :- (a). The dynamo drive unit. (b). The distributor and governor drive for ignition unit. (c). The crankshaft. (d). The gearbox. (e). An improved cylinder head has been roughed out some two months. It is fairly clear that substantial gains can be achieved in simplicity and efficiency with reduced cost of production. The point I wish to make is that this re-consideration of design cannot be entertained until the Wraith is clear for production, with arrangement drawings completed and Bentley lll cleared on first experimental stage of its development. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||